
Overview
Background
- 2023-now Joint Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (CNFS, QAAFI)
- 2022-now Senior Research Fellow, AIBN, The University of Queensland
- 2020-now NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, AIBN, The University of Queensland
- 2017-2019 ARC DECRA Fellow, AIBN, The University of Queensland
- 2016-2017 Research Associate, AIBN, The University of Queensland
- 2013-2015 Macquarie University Research Fellow (MQRF), Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science (CBMS), Macquarie University
- 2012-2013 Postdoc Research Fellow, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Macquarie University
- July 2012 PhD, Analytical Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology (DLUT), China
Research Team: Dr Zhang is now leading more than 15 researchers, working on the development of responsive molecules/nanomaterials for biosensing and imaging, early disease detection and treatment, food/agricultural/environmental applications. He has collaborations with scientist in Chemistry, Materials Science, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Food and Agriculture Science, and Biophotonics from Australia, US, UK, Sweden, India, Russia and China.
Research Support: Since 2011, Dr Zhang has attracted 11 research grants (> 3 million) as chief investigator (lead CI and/or co-CI). These grants include 3 Fellowship (NHMRC Emerging Leadership, ARC DECRA and MQRF to develop responsive probes for redox biomarkers detection within body), 1 NHMRC Project grant in redox quantification in liver cancer chemotherapy, 1 UQ ECR grant, 1 NSFC grant, and another 3 grants from universities.
Research Output: Dr Zhang has published more than 180 research papers since his first publication in 2010 (>95 papers published as first and/or corresponding author), and 1 patent. He frequently publishes in a number of premier journals, such as Nature Photonics, Nature Plants, Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), Angewandte Chemie, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Society Reviews, and Accounts of Chemical Research. These publications have received >9,000 citations with an H-index of 55. He has 8 Highly Cited Papers (7 in the ESI field of Chemistry-Analytical) and 3 Hot Articles.
Service: Dr Zhang is an Editor of TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry (Elsevier, 1/106 in Analytical Chemistry) and Methods (Elsevier), and Editorial Board Member of several international high impact journals, such as Chemistry-An Asian Journal (Wiley), Aggregate (Wiley), Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis (Elsevier), Green Analytical Chemistry (Elsevier). He is a referee of ~80 international journals (2nd most contributions of all UQ researchers, with >20 awards from RSC and Elsevier journals), and grant assessor for more than 10 country and regions, such as Australia, UK, Europe, Netherland, New Zealand.
Award: Dr Zhang's national and international standing in the fields of chemistry (analytical and inorganic) and functional nanomaterials is evidenced by the awards of ACS Rising Star in Measurement Science, NJC Emerging Investigator, Biosensors Young Investigator Award, IAAM Scientist Medal, Vebleo Fellow, IAAM Fellow, ARC DECRA, NHMRC EL Fellow, MQRF, and more than 20 TOP Outstanding Reviewer awards from RSC and Elsevier. He has been a World's Top 2% Scientist in Chemistry (Analytical) and Nanoscience & Nanotechnology since 2022. He has delivered about 40 invited presentations and keynotes.
Teaching and Supervision: Dr Zhang has a strong commitment to training students. His students have received several awards, such as 4 "Dean’s Commendation for Outstanding Academic Performance", 1 "Dean’s Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research", 1 "Dean's Award for Outstanding HDR Theses", ANFF-Q students award, 3MT Runner-UP and People's Choice. He has supervised 6 PhD and >20 Masters to completion. He is now co-coordinating and lecturing the MSE PP ENGY7112/7115/7114/7215 in School of Chem. Eng., EAIT. His teaching contributions in Faculty of Science, UQ are recognised by two nominations of "Dean’s Commendation for Excellent Teaching Awards" in semesters 1 and 2 in 2022.
Availability
- Dr Run Zhang is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy of Engineering, Dalian University of Technology
Research interests
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Responsive probes to detect and visualise highly reactive biomolecules
design and synthesis of organic/organometallic complexes (including Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes and lanthanide chelate) for sensing of bioactive ions, reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), redox biomolecules, gasotransmitters, amino acid, and proteins in various diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases.
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Functional nanomaterial for early diseases diagnosis and treatment
engineering of functional nanomaterials for disease detection and treatment through monitoring and regulation of redox state, including photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and sonodynamic therapy (SDT) for diseases deeply seated in body.
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Sensors for the detection of food quality & safety and environmental pollutants
development of ultra-sensitive sensors for the detection of food additives, antibiotics, pesticides, spoilage, heavy metals, toxic anions and gases (greenhouse gases and VOCs), etc.
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Bionanoprobes for deep tissue sensing and imaging
fabrication of responsive nanomaterials for sensing and imaging of biomarkers located deeply inside the body. The probes allow the monitoring of specific disease-related biomarkers through optical, acoustic, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
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Redox monitoring and regulation for diagnosis and treatment
development of novel luminescent probes with long emission lifetime to eliminate autofluorescence, allowing background-free quantification and bioimaging of redox species in situ development of responsive nanomaterials for treatment through quantitative redox regulation
Works
Search Professor Run Zhang’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Journal Article
Synergistic cancer photochemotherapy via layered double hydroxide-based trimodal nanomedicine at very low therapeutic doses
Liu, Jianping, Sun, Luyao, Li, Li, Zhang, Run and Xu, Zhi Ping (2021). Synergistic cancer photochemotherapy via layered double hydroxide-based trimodal nanomedicine at very low therapeutic doses. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 13 (6) acsami.0c23143, 7115-7126. doi: 10.1021/acsami.0c23143
2021
Journal Article
Enhancing tumor accumulation and cellular uptake of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles by coating/detaching pH-triggered charge-convertible polymers
Xu, Tiefeng, Liu, Jianping, Sun, Luyao, Zhang, Run, Xu, Zhi Ping and Sun, Qing (2021). Enhancing tumor accumulation and cellular uptake of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles by coating/detaching pH-triggered charge-convertible polymers. ACS Omega, 6 (5), 3822-3830. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.0c05520
2021
Journal Article
Lipid-encapsulated upconversion nanoparticle for near-infrared light-mediated carbon monoxide release for cancer gas therapy
Opoku-Damoah, Yaw, Zhang, Run, Ta, Hang T., Amilan Jose, D., Sakla, Rahul and Xu, Zhi Ping (2021). Lipid-encapsulated upconversion nanoparticle for near-infrared light-mediated carbon monoxide release for cancer gas therapy. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 158, 211-221. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.11.014
2021
Journal Article
Resorufin-based responsive probes for fluorescent and colorimetric analysis
Tian, Lu, Feng, Huan, Dai, Zhichao and Zhang, Run (2021). Resorufin-based responsive probes for fluorescent and colorimetric analysis. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 9 (1), 53-79. doi: 10.1039/d0tb01628d
2021
Journal Article
Recent advances in the development of theranostic nanoparticles for cardiovascular diseases
Wu, Yuao, Vazquez-Prada, Karla X., Liu, Yajun, Whittaker, Andrew K., Zhang, Run and Ta, Hang T. (2021). Recent advances in the development of theranostic nanoparticles for cardiovascular diseases. Nanotheranostics, 5 (4), 499-514. doi: 10.7150/NTNO.62730
2021
Journal Article
A phenothiazine-based turn-on fluorescent probe for the selective detection of hydrogen sulfide in food, live cells and animals
Hu, Yaoyun, Shang, Zhuye, Wang, Juan, Hong, Min, Zhang, Run, Meng, Qingtao and Zhang, Zhiqiang (2021). A phenothiazine-based turn-on fluorescent probe for the selective detection of hydrogen sulfide in food, live cells and animals. Analyst, 146 (24), 7528-7536. doi: 10.1039/d1an01762d
2021
Journal Article
Sweetsop-like α-Fe2O3@CoNi catalyst with superior peroxidase-like activity for sensitive and selective detection of hydroquinone
Feng, Min, Wen, Shaohua, Chen, Xiaofang, Deng, Die, Yang, Xiupei and Zhang, Run (2021). Sweetsop-like α-Fe2O3@CoNi catalyst with superior peroxidase-like activity for sensitive and selective detection of hydroquinone. RSC Advances, 11 (39), 24065-24071. doi: 10.1039/d1ra03456a
2020
Journal Article
Advances in the development of fluorescence probes for cell plasma membrane imaging
Liu, Chaolong, Gao, Xiaona, Yuan, Jingli and Zhang, Run (2020). Advances in the development of fluorescence probes for cell plasma membrane imaging. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 133 116092, 116092. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2020.116092
2020
Journal Article
J-aggregate-based FRET monitoring of drug release from polymer nanoparticles with high drug loading
Liu, Yun, Yang, Guangze, Jin, Song, Zhang, Run, Chen, Peng, Jisi, Teng, Wang, Lianzhou, Chen, Dong, Weitz, David and Zhao, Chun-Xia (2020). J-aggregate-based FRET monitoring of drug release from polymer nanoparticles with high drug loading. Angewandte Chemie, 132 (45) anie.202008018, 20240-20249. doi: 10.1002/anie.202008018
2020
Journal Article
Different approaches to develop nanosensors for diagnosis of diseases
Arndt, Nina, Tran, Huong D. N., Zhang, Run, Xu, Zhi Ping and Ta, Hang T. (2020). Different approaches to develop nanosensors for diagnosis of diseases. Advanced Science, 7 (24) 2001476, 1-31. doi: 10.1002/advs.202001476
2020
Journal Article
Luminescent thermochromic silver iodides as wavelength-dependent thermometers
Song, Dan-Na, Zhang, Dao-Jun, Wang, Yong-Lei, Wang, Jun-Jie, Xing, Xiu-Shuang, Lv, Zhi-Ying, Liu, Fan, Han, Jiang-Xia, Zhang, Ren-Chun, Liao, Shui-Jiao and Zhang, Run (2020). Luminescent thermochromic silver iodides as wavelength-dependent thermometers. Inorganic Chemistry, 59 (18) acs.inorgchem.0c00606, 13067-13077. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c00606
2020
Journal Article
Development of “dual-key-and-lock” responsive probes for biosensing and imaging
Feng, Huan, Meng, Qingtao, Ta, Hang T. and Zhang, Run (2020). Development of “dual-key-and-lock” responsive probes for biosensing and imaging. New Journal of Chemistry, 44 (30), 12890-12896. doi: 10.1039/d0nj02762f
2020
Journal Article
Charge reversion simultaneously enhances tumor accumulation and cell uptake of layered double hydroxide nanohybrids for effective imaging and therapy
Liu, Jianping, Wu, Yilun, Fu, Changkui, Li, Bei, Li, Li, Zhang, Run, Xu, Tiefeng and Xu, Zhi Ping (2020). Charge reversion simultaneously enhances tumor accumulation and cell uptake of layered double hydroxide nanohybrids for effective imaging and therapy. Small, 16 (31) 2002115, e2002115. doi: 10.1002/smll.202002115
2020
Journal Article
“Two Birds with One Stone” Ruthenium(II) Complex Probe for Biothiols Discrimination and Detection In Vitro and In Vivo
Liu, Chaolong, Liu, Jianping, Zhang, Wenzhu, Wang, Yong‐Lei, Liu, Qi, Song, Bo, Yuan, Jingli and Zhang, Run (2020). “Two Birds with One Stone” Ruthenium(II) Complex Probe for Biothiols Discrimination and Detection In Vitro and In Vivo. Advanced Science, 7 (14) 2000458, 2000458. doi: 10.1002/advs.202000458
2020
Journal Article
Time-gated luminescence probe for ratiometric and luminescence lifetime detection of Hypochorous acid in lysosomes of live cells
Tian, Lu, Ma, Hua, Song, Bo, Dai, Zhichao, Zheng, Xiuwen, Zhang, Run, Chen, Kuiyong and Yuan, Jingli (2020). Time-gated luminescence probe for ratiometric and luminescence lifetime detection of Hypochorous acid in lysosomes of live cells. Talanta, 212 120760, 120760. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.120760
2020
Journal Article
Recent advances in the development of responsive probes for selective detection of cysteine
Zhang, Run, Yong, Jiaxi, Yuan, Jingli and Xu, Zhi Ping (2020). Recent advances in the development of responsive probes for selective detection of cysteine. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 408 213182, 1-41. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2020.213182
2020
Journal Article
Investigation on the adsorption-interaction mechanism of Pb(II) at surface of silk fibroin protein-derived hybrid nanoflower adsorbent
Li, Xiang, Xiong, Yan, Duan, Ming, Wan, Haiqin, Li, Jun, Zhang, Can, Qin, Sha, Fang, Shenwen and Zhang, Run (2020). Investigation on the adsorption-interaction mechanism of Pb(II) at surface of silk fibroin protein-derived hybrid nanoflower adsorbent. Materials, 13 (5) 1241, 1241. doi: 10.3390/ma13051241
2020
Journal Article
Red-emission probe for ratiometric fluorescent detection of bisulfite and its application in live animals and food samples
Zhou, Fang, Feng, Huan, Li, Haibo, Wang, Yue, Zhang, Zhiqiang, Kang, Wenjun, Jia, Hongmin, Yang, Xinyi, Meng, Qingtao and Zhang, Run (2020). Red-emission probe for ratiometric fluorescent detection of bisulfite and its application in live animals and food samples. ACS Omega, 5 (10) acsomega.0c00063, 5452-5459. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.0c00063
2020
Journal Article
A copper (II) ensemble-based fluorescence chemosensor and its application in the ‘Naked–Eye’ detection of biothiols in human urine
Wang, Yue, Feng, Huan, Li, Haibo, Yang, Xinyi, Jia, Hongmin, Kang, Wenjun, Meng, Qingtao, Zhang, Zhiqiang and Zhang, Run (2020). A copper (II) ensemble-based fluorescence chemosensor and its application in the ‘Naked–Eye’ detection of biothiols in human urine. Sensors, 20 (5) 1331, 1331. doi: 10.3390/s20051331
2020
Journal Article
An artificial protein-probe hybrid as a responsive probe for ratiometric detection and imaging of hydrogen peroxide in cells
Zhang, Xing, Fu, Youxin, Qian, Guangren, Zhang, Run and Xu, Zhi Ping (2020). An artificial protein-probe hybrid as a responsive probe for ratiometric detection and imaging of hydrogen peroxide in cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 8 (25), 5420-5424. doi: 10.1039/d0tb00856g
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Run Zhang is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Responsive molecules and nanomaterials for bisoensing and bioimaging
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Sensors for environmental pollutants and food quality & safety
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Theranostic nanomaterials: especially the optical nanomaterials for diagnosis and therapy
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Activatable nanomaterials for cancer treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ruirui Qiao
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of responsive nanoprobe for enzyme analysis in inflammation
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
In-situ growth of layered two-dimensional nano-sonosensitisers for enhanced sonodynamic therapy
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Sensitive Detection of Antibiotics with Nanoprobes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
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Doctor Philosophy
Monitoring inflammation through quantitation of redox-mediated macrophage polarisation
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Functional piezoelectric scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Responsive nanoprobe for redox biomolecules quantification
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Sensitive Detection of Antibiotics with Nanoprobes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
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Doctor Philosophy
Responsive probe for time-gated luminescence bioassay and imaging
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
The efficacy of nanoencapsulation as a delivery system of Terminalia ferdinandiana extract for periodontal disease therapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
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Doctor Philosophy
Precision Engineering Lipid Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Precision Engineering Lipid Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery
Associate Advisor
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Master Philosophy
Development of cerium-containing layered double hydroxide nanoparticles as antioxidant for disease treatment
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Thermo-triggered Release of Drug/Gene Carrier System by Lipid-Encapsulated Gold Nanoparticles for Tumour Therapy
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Precision-engineered hybrid core-shell materials
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving the Shelf-life of Salmon Fillets Using an Advanced Nanoencapsulation Technology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dharini Sivakumar, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
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Doctor Philosophy
Thermo-triggered Release of Drug/Gene Carrier System by Lipid-Encapsulated Gold Nanoparticles for Tumour Therapy
Associate Advisor
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Master Philosophy
Bioinspired Piezoelectric Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Upconversion-encoded microspheres for glucocorticoids detection as food hazards or health markers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kayvan Etebari, Dr Zeinab Khalil, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Precision Engineering Lipid Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery
Associate Advisor
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2024
Master Philosophy
Development of cerium-containing layered double hydroxide nanoparticles as antioxidants for disease treatment
Associate Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Developing efficient nanoparticle-based platform to deliver biomolecules for plant modification
Associate Advisor
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Lipid-Coated Upconversion Nanoparticle as a Responsive Therapeutic Gas Release Nanoplatform for Cancer Therapy
Associate Advisor
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Layered double hydroxide nanoparticles tailored to target tumor microenvironment as multifunctional nanoplatforms for synergistic cancer therapy
Associate Advisor
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Development of theranostic nanomaterials based on iron oxide and cerium oxide for ROS-related and inflammatory diseases
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Novel Cu-LDH-based nanomedicine for combination cancer therapy
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Run Zhang directly for media enquiries about:
- Biosensing and imaging
- Cancer
- Environmental pollution
- Food safety
- Inflammation
- Optical probe
- Redox biomolecules
- Sensor
- Stress resilience
- Theranostic nanomaterials
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